Situational judgement tests (SJTs) present scenarios that candidates might face in the workplace and ask them to choose or rank the most appropriate responses. Here are some example questions to illustrate the variety of situations and the competencies they assess:
Example 1: Teamwork and collaboration
Scenario: Your team is working on a critical project with a tight deadline. One of your teammates is falling behind on their tasks, which could jeopardize the entire project.
Options:
- Offer to assist your teammate with their tasks to help meet the deadline.
- Speak to your manager about the issue and ask for their advice.
- Confront your teammate and demand they work harder to meet the deadline.
- Ignore the situation and focus on completing your own tasks.
Example 2: Customer service
Scenario: A customer is unhappy with a product they purchased and is becoming increasingly frustrated while speaking to you.
Options:
- Apologize to the customer and offer a full refund immediately.
- Listen to the customer’s concerns, apologize, and offer a solution that addresses their issue.
- Inform the customer that company policy does not allow refunds and suggest they contact customer service.
- Ask the customer to calm down and explain the issue again.
Example 3: Ethical judgment
Scenario: You discover that a coworker has been using company resources for personal projects, which is against company policy.
Options:
- Confront your coworker and demand they stop immediately.
- Report the situation to your manager or HR.
- Ignore the behavior since it doesn’t directly affect your work.
- Discuss the issue with your coworker privately and advise them to stop.
Example 4: Problem-solving
Scenario: You are working on a project when you encounter a problem that you do not know how to solve. The deadline is approaching quickly.
Options:
- Try to figure it out on your own, even if it means potentially missing the deadline.
- Ask a more experienced colleague for advice and assistance.
- Inform your manager of the problem and ask for an extension on the deadline.
- Ignore the problem and submit your work as is, hoping it will not be noticed.
Example 5: Time management
Scenario: You have been assigned multiple tasks with overlapping deadlines. You are struggling to manage your time effectively.
Options:
- Prioritize the tasks based on their deadlines and importance, and focus on completing them one by one.
- Work on all tasks simultaneously, dedicating a little time to each every day.
- Request an extension on all tasks to give yourself more time to complete them.
- Focus on the task you find most interesting and complete the others later.
Best approaches
Example 1: This scenario assesses teamwork and initiative. The best response is likely to be Option 1, as it shows willingness to help a colleague and ensures the project stays on track.
Example 2: This scenario assesses customer service skills and conflict resolution. The best response is likely to be Option 2, as it demonstrates empathy, active listening, and a willingness to resolve the issue.
Example 3: This scenario assesses ethical judgment and integrity. The best response is likely to be Option 2, as it follows company policy and ensures the issue is handled appropriately by those responsible for enforcing rules.
Example 4: This scenario assesses problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. The best response is likely to be Option 2, as it shows initiative in seeking help and ensures the problem is addressed in a timely manner.
Example 5: This scenario assesses time management skills. The best response is likely to be Option 1, as it shows an ability to prioritize and manage tasks efficiently.
These examples illustrate how SJTs evaluate various competencies such as teamwork, customer service, ethical judgment, problem-solving, and time management.
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